Spectacle case

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a case for small objects like eyeglasses that includes a receptacle with outwardly projecting tabs that are received by a pair of inwardly facing channels of a U-shaped frame which are pivotally connected at the open ends and can be releasably secured together. Separating the channels separates a cover portion of the receptacle from the base thereof to open the case and releasably securing the channels closes the case.

United States Patent 111 Mlttell 1451 Nov. 5, 1974 [54] SPECTACLE CASE 2,087.615 7/1937 Carr .1 150 29 2 695 647 11/1954 Deutsch l 150/29 [76] Inventor: Peter Mlttell, 262 Mam SL, M1lford, 2,708,025 5/1955 Hamel I I I I H 206/5 R M989 01757 2,712,337 7 1955 Tremblaym. 150/30 [22} Filed: Sept. 28 1972 2,922.45] 1/1960 White 150/29 [21] Appl. No.1 293,112 Primary Examiner-William T. Dixson, Jr.

52] us. (:1 150/29, 150/46, 206/5, [57] ABSTRACT 206/6 Disclosed is a case for small objects like eyeglasses [51] Int. Cl... A45c 11/04, A45c 13/04, A45 13/06 that includes a receptacle with outwardly projecting [58] Field of Search 206/5 R, 6; 150/29, 30, tabs that are received by a pair of inwardly facing 150/28 R, 42, 46, 3; 220/31 S; 190/41 R; channels of a U-shaped frame which. are pivotally con- 229/44 R nected at the open ends and can be releasably secured together. Separating the channels separates a cover [56] References Cited portion of the receptacle from the base thereof to r UNITED STATES PATENTS open the case and releasably securing the channels 488 742 12/1892 Schewer 150/46 Closes the Case 1,479,699 1/1924 Delman .l 190/41 R 16 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures sum 10H mum 51974 I BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to protective cases and, more particularly, to protective cases for storing small personal items such as eyeglasses and the like.

Persons who wear eyeglasses or spectacles generally possess small cases for storage and protection of the glasses when not in use. Different types of cases are available but all can be evaluated by comparison with certain general requirements imposed on them. For example, the interior of the case must be non-abrasive to insure that the lenses are not scratched and preferably it should be resilient to protect the spectacles from shock. In addition, the case itself must be sufficiently rugged to protect the spectacles from physical damage and deformation. Finally, if a case is to be widely accepted, it must be aesthetically appealing yet durable and low in cost. Many readily available cases are sufficiently rugged and otherwise functionally adequate, but unfortunately are not of the shape and form desired by persons today. In addition, many of these cases cannot easily and inexpensively be supplied in a variety of surface colors and patterns.

The object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a stylish case for eyeglasses and the like that is sufficiently rugged to render adequate protection but is inexpensive to fabricate in a variety of finishes and colors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is characterized by a case for small objects such as eyeglasses and includes a receptacle with a base and a cover affixed thereto by a hinge. Tabs project outwardly from the base and cover and are received by two inwardly facing channels of a U-shaped frame. The open ends of the two U-shaped channels are pivotally secured together and a clasp releasably secures the channels adjacent one another. When the channels are secured together the case is closed and when the channels are separated the cover is separated from the base of the receptacle and thus the case is open. To construct the case a single piece of fibre board is cut, scored and folded to form the receptacle and the tabs. A'protective lining and a decorative cover are placed on opposite sides of the fibre board and the tabs are inserted into the channels. Inasmuch as the fibre board is relatively thick as compared to the size of the channels, simply pinching the channels at various points to provide restrictions therein causes the channels to clamp the tabs and retain them. Thus assembly is fast and easy and is achieved with inexpensive purse pinching dyes and without stitching. Costs are further controlled by the utilization of a readily available push up purse frame that provides safe closure and feminine appeal. Inasmuch as the decorative cover is simply a piece of fabric applied to the outside of the receptacle, nearly any readily available fabric can be selected for acover and thus a very wide choice of colors and patterns is available.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other features and objects of the present invention will become more apparent upon a perusal of the following description taken in conjuction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. I is an isometric view of the subject case in a closed position;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2--2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the case shown in FIG. 1 with the cover in the open position;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the interior side of the fibre board receptacle before fabrication;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the exterior side of the fibre board shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the protective lining utilized in the subject case;

FIG. 7 is a plan viewof the decorative cover utilized in the subject case; and

FIG. 8 shows a folded fibre board receptacle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 there is shown a case 21 for storing small items such as spectacles or eyeglasses. A receptacle portion 22 includes a base portion 23 with a cover 24 affixed thereto by a cover hinge 25. Outwardly projecting tabs 26 are visible only in the sectional FIG. 2 but do extend around the opening of the base 23 and the cover 24 except on the cover hinge 25 and are received by two U-shaped channels 27 and 28 of a push up purse frame. Hinge pins 29 at the open ends of the U-shaped channels 27 and 28 pivotally fasten them together. The channels 27 and 28 can be re leasably secured together (as shown in FIG. 1) by the closure clasp 31 or can be separated (as shown in FIG. 3) thus moving the cover 24 away fom the base 23 and opening the case 21.

As shown most clearly in FIG. 2, the structural integrity of the case 21 is supplied by a rigid fibre board sheet 51 that is scored in several places 32 (discussed more fully below) to facilitate bending. Depth in the case 21 is provided by front wall 35, sidewalls 36, 37 and rear wall 38. On the inside of the case 21 is a protective lining 33 that includes a fabric such as nylon with a foam backing. Protection from mechanical shock is provided by the foam backing and the fabric is selected to be non-abrasive to the anticipated contents of the case 21. On the outer side of the fibre board is a decorative cover sheet 34 included render the case aesthetically appealing. Both the protective lining 33 and the decorative cover 34 should be stretchable to facilitate opening and closing the case 21 and can be laminated to the fibre board Slif desired.

Referring to FIG. 3 it is seen that the U-shaped channel 27 includes three separate channel sections/For purposes of identification they shall be referred to as a left channel 41, an elongated channel 42 and a right channel 43. Likewise, the U-shaped channel 28 includes a left channel 44, an elongated channel 45 and a right channel 46.

Referring now to FIG. 4 there is shown the interior surface of the fibre board 51 and shown thereon is an upper base tab 52 that is received by the elongated channel 42 and is separated from the front wall 35 by a cut score 53 that facilitates folding. The corners of the board 51 that partially define the base tab 52 are notched and thus both the tab and the side wall 35 are partially defined by edges 54 and 55. At the end of the edge 55 is the edge 56 that, with an edge 57, partially defines the sidewall 37 and a base tab 58 that is received by the right channel 43. It will be noted that the base tab 58 is separated from the sidewall 37 by a cut score 59 and one end of the tab is defined by a notched edge 61. Similarly, an edge 63, a notch 64, a cut score 65 and an edge 66 separate and define the sidewall 36 and a base tab 67 that is received by the left channel Referring to FIG. 5 there is shown the exterior side of the fibre board 51. The cover portion is separated from the lower sidewall 38 by a cut score 72 that is cut along a preselected line to facilitate folding of the fibre board 51 along that line. It will be appreciated that the fold induced by the score 72 functions as a cover hinge 25 and permits the cover 24 to open and close. Inasmuch as FIG. 5 is a mirror image of FIG. 4 if the cut scores are disregarded, a cover edge 73 is received by the left channel 44, a cover edge 74 is received by the elongated channel 45 and a cover edge 75 is received by the right channel 46. Cut scores 76, 77, 78 and 79 separate the walls 35, 36, 37 and 38 from a bottom wall of the case and facilitate folding to form the attractive shape shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.

Referring next to FIG. 6 there is shown the protective lining 33. It will be appreciated thatthe lining is the same size and shape as the fibre board 51 and can be bonded to the inner surface thereof before fabrication of the case 21. Referring next to FIG. 7 there is shown the decorative cover 34 with the fibre board 51 shown in phantom for comparison. It will be noted that the decorative cover 34 is larger than the fibre board 51 and includes finish portions 81, 82, 83 and 84 near the notched corners in the fibre board.

Referring now to FIG. 8 there is shown the method of folding the fibre board 51 to form the case 21. It will be understood that the lining 33 is laminated to and the decorative cover 34 is placed over the fibre board 51 before folding. However, for clarity, only the fibre board 51 is shown in FIG. 8. The sidewall 35 is bent forward and the base tab 52 is bent outwardly into position as shown in FIG. 8. Similarly, the walls 36 and 37 and the base tabs 58 and 68 are folded outwardly into position. Next, the fibre board 51 is folded along the score 79 to form the rear wall 38 and along the cover hinge score 72 to form the cover 24. The fibre board 51 is then bent to the closed position that corresponds to the closed case 21 shown in FIG. 1 and the tabs with the portion of the lining 33 and the cover 34 adjacent thereto) are slipped into the frame thus forming the case 21 as shown in FIG. 1. To insure that the tabs 52, 58 and 68 and the cover edges 73, 74 and 75 are retained in the channels 27 and 28 attaching clamp restrictions are placed in the channels as depicted by the restrictions 91 shown in FIG. 1. The restriction 91 are made with purse pinching dies. Inasmuch as the fibre board 51 is relatively thick with respect to the channels 27 and 28 only restrictions 91 near the open, or hinged ends of the channels 27 and 28 are required to hold the tabs therein. In addition, the natural recoil of the fibre board 51 tends to restrain the tabs 52, 58 and 68 and the cover edges 73, 74 and 75 in the channels 27 and 28 thus providing a more secure construction. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, as the board straightens the tab 52 is urged in an upward direction and, as shown inFIG. 1, that upward motion pushes the tab 52 yet further into the channel 27. If the lining 33 and the cover 34 are not laminated to the board 51, restriction 91 around the entire frame may be used to hold them in place.

When the fibre board 51 is folded as shown in FIG. 8, the edges such as 54 and 66 come together in the corners. Thus, the finish portions 81-84 of the decorative cover 34 are loose. In the finished case, the finish portions 81-84 are drawn into the interior of the case 21 between the edges 54 and 66 before the frame is applied and the finish portions are clamped in that position by the edges 54 and 66. Thus, for example, the finish portions 82 and 83 are shown within the case 21 in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, different sizes of fibre board and frames can provide a matching cigarette case. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specificallydescribed.

What is claimed is:

1. A case for small objects comprising:

receptacle means for receiving the object and including a unitary rigid board member having cut therein a hinge score to facilitate relative movement between a base portion and a cover portion, said base portion defining a bottom wall, a front wall, a pair of sidewalls and a rear wall joined to said cover portion by said hinge score, said side and front walls having scores adjacent outer peripheries that define outwardly folded tabs; and

a frame comprising a pairof U-shaped channels,

hinges joining the ends of said channels; and closure means for releasably securing together said channels, said channels facing inwardly and receiving said tabs and the peripheral edges of said cover portion whereby said base portion is secured to one of said channels and said cover portion is secured to the other one of said channels.

2. A case according to claim 1 wherein said tabs and said peripheral edges of said cover portion are of substantial thickness as compared to the width of said U- shaped channels.

3. A case according to claim 1 wherein said hinge score and said scores adjacent said outer peripheries of said front and sidewalls are cut in opposite sides of said board member.

4. A case according to claim 1 wherein said U-shaped channels comprise attachment means for retaining said tabs in said U-shaped channels.

5. A case according to claim 3 wherein said attachment means comprises clamp means for clamping said tabs in said U-shaped channels.

6. A case according to claim 5 wherein said clamp means comprises restrictions in said U-shaped channels.

7. A case according to claim 6 wherein said restrictions are near said hinges.

8. A case according to claim 1 wherein said receptacle means comprises protective lining means for protecting objects therein from abrasion.

9. A case according to claim 8 wherein said protective lining means comprises cushion means for protecting objects in said receptacle means from mechanical shock.

10. A case according to claim 9 wherein said protective lining means and said cushion means comprise fabric with a foam backing.

11. A case according to claim 8 wherein said protective lining means is stretchable.

15. A case according to claim 13 wherein said decorative cover means is of a larger area than said rigid board and comprises finish portions that are tucked in at corners in said receptacle means.

16. A case according to claim 1 wherein said rigid board is fibre board. 

1. A case for small objects compRising: receptacle means for receiving the object and including a unitary rigid board member having cut therein a hinge score to facilitate relative movement between a base portion and a cover portion, said base portion defining a bottom wall, a front wall, a pair of sidewalls and a rear wall joined to said cover portion by said hinge score, said side and front walls having scores adjacent outer peripheries that define outwardly folded tabs; and a frame comprising a pair of U-shaped channels, hinges joining the ends of said channels; and closure means for releasably securing together said channels, said channels facing inwardly and receiving said tabs and the peripheral edges of said cover portion whereby said base portion is secured to one of said channels and said cover portion is secured to the other one of said channels.
 2. A case according to claim 1 wherein said tabs and said peripheral edges of said cover portion are of substantial thickness as compared to the width of said U-shaped channels.
 3. A case according to claim 1 wherein said hinge score and said scores adjacent said outer peripheries of said front and sidewalls are cut in opposite sides of said board member.
 4. A case according to claim 1 wherein said U-shaped channels comprise attachment means for retaining said tabs in said U-shaped channels.
 5. A case according to claim 3 wherein said attachment means comprises clamp means for clamping said tabs in said U-shaped channels.
 6. A case according to claim 5 wherein said clamp means comprises restrictions in said U-shaped channels.
 7. A case according to claim 6 wherein said restrictions are near said hinges.
 8. A case according to claim 1 wherein said receptacle means comprises protective lining means for protecting objects therein from abrasion.
 9. A case according to claim 8 wherein said protective lining means comprises cushion means for protecting objects in said receptacle means from mechanical shock.
 10. A case according to claim 9 wherein said protective lining means and said cushion means comprise fabric with a foam backing.
 11. A case according to claim 8 wherein said protective lining means is stretchable.
 12. A case according to claim 8 wherein said protective lining means is the same shape as said rigid board and is laminated thereto.
 13. A case according to claim 1 wherein said receptacle means comprises decorative cover means for covering the outer surface thereof.
 14. A case according to claim 13 wherein said decorative cover means is stretchable.
 15. A case according to claim 13 wherein said decorative cover means is of a larger area than said rigid board and comprises finish portions that are tucked in at corners in said receptacle means.
 16. A case according to claim 1 wherein said rigid board is fibre board. 